Photo © Alexa Elliot
Photo © Alexa Elliot
Photo © Alexa Elliot
Typical species:
Zebra shark
Photo © Jeremy Safford-Deitsch
Genera:
1
Species:
1
Zebra sharks
Only one species represents this family, the zebra shark, Stegostoma tigrinum. Zebra sharks can only be found in the Indo-West Pacific area, from the Red Sea down to Australia. The body is unique: long, with a tail that is a long as the body, small transverse mouth in front of the lateral eyes; and two spineless dorsal fins and very prominent ridges on the side of the body. Adults have a yellow coloration with dark spots over the entire body, juveniles are dark brown with yellow stripes. Zebra sharks prefer coral reefs, and sandy bottoms. Although quite common, their biology is still poorly known. They are apparently rather sluggish, at least during daytime. Their flexible body allows them to search for food such as molluscs, crabs and small fishes in crevices and narrow cracks. Zebra sharks lay eggs (oviparity).